Jewels of Madagascar: Wildlife and Culture of the Eighth Continent

Depart the U.S. for Madagascar.

Arrive in Antananarivo, Madagascar on a late night flight. After clearing immigration and customs, and exchanging money at the airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. Check in and rest after the long flight. * We recommend considering a stopover in Paris en route to rest or coming in a day early to rest.

Enjoy the morning at leisure to rest. This afternoon, attend a welcome lunch and program orientation. Have dinner at a local restaurant this evening, followed by a lecture: "An Introduction to Madagascar."

Start the morning with a leisurely breakfast, and then depart east toward Andasibe. Arrive at the hotel, check in, and have lunch. Next, visit Lemur Island. Established by Vakona Lodge, this small reserve was created to provide sanctuary for displaced lemurs that were former pets and not suited for reintroduction into the wild. The lemurs are isolated on the island and accustomed to human visitors, which offers guests the unique opportunity to interact and be photographed with them. This evening, enjoy dinner overlooking the Madagascan rainforest.

Rise early for a full-day exploration of the Analamazaotra Reserve in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Andasibe-Mantadia contains dense, humid, mostly primary growth forests covered with lianas, moss, fern trees, and more than 100 orchid species. Conservation of the forest is a critical challenge in this region due to the graphite mines inside the park; we will discuss conservation initiatives as they relate to natural resources. Later today, take an evening walk in the Mitsinjo Analamazaotra Forest Station, a community-managed protected area, to look for nocturnal lemur species, such as the locally endemic Goodman's mouse lemur, furry-eared dwarf lemur, and hairy-eared dwarf lemur, as well as leaf-tailed geckos and the tree frogs Boophis viridis and Boophis pyrrhus.

This morning, have breakfast while listening to the peculiar call of the endangered indri, the largest living lemur species - some reach up to three feet tall! Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is an ideal place to observe the indri, as there are some indri families there that have been habituated to humans. Considered a sacred animal in Madagascar, the indri is the focus of several myths. An additional 13 lemur species can also be seen, including the woody lemur, gray bamboo lemur, diademed sifaka, brown lemur, red mouse lemur, red-bellied lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur, and aye-aye. These forests are also home to more than a dozen other mammal species, more than 100 types of birds, 50 species of reptiles, and 80 amphibian species.

Drive back to Antananarivo today.

Fly to the seaside town of Toliara on the Mozambique Channel. Upon arrival, visit the Antsokay Arboretum, a 100-acre site created in 1980 by Swiss amateur biologist Hermann Petignat and dedicated to conservation of the country's endemic flora. This afternoon, attend a lecture on Madagascar's spiny forests, a unique ecosystem that only occurs in the southwest of the country. Later check in at the hotel, with time to relax before dinner.

Travel inland toward Isalo today, with a stop en route at Zombitse National Park, an area characterized by succulent plants and dry deciduous forest. More than 30 bird species are endemic to the park, earning it designation as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. Have a picnic lunch in the park before continuing to the hotel. Check in and relax in anticipation of Isalo and its beautiful landscapes of sandstone canyons, fauna and flora, natural swimming pools, and waterfalls.

Spend the day exploring Isalo National Park, a continental sandstone plateau dating to the Jurassic Period. Hike across varied landscapes with different forms of sandstones, dotted with the famous dwarf baobab. After an hour's walk with short climbs, stop to rest in a spectacular valley with beautiful views. The overlook shows miles of azure sky, rocky desert, and winding greenery. Continue to a white-sand natural pool for the chance to swim before hiking back to the starting point. Return to the hotel for a cocktail and dinner.

Spend some more time exploring Isalo National Park this morning. Later, drive to the coastal town of Ifaty. Check in at the hotel with time to relax before dinner.

Embark on a half-day excursion to the Massif des Roses - or Rose Garden - snorkeling site via a ride on a glass-bottom boat; gear is included. Rose Garden is a patch reef in the middle of the lagoon approximately 1.8 miles from shore. It is 20 feet to the sandy bottom and just 6 feet to the top of the reef. The site takes its name from the colony of rose-shaped Montipora coral that primarily inhabits the patch reef. Other prominent genera include Fungia (mushroom corals) and Acropora (table and branching corals). Rose Garden is home to over a hundred species of fish, as well as lobsters, shrimps, rays, and octopus. The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy the beach.

Rise early for a special sunrise walk in Reniala Private Reserve, a protected area that's managed by a local environmental association working to develop ecotourism in the region. Hike some of the trails to explore the spiny forest. The reserve contains more than 2,000 plant species, and among its impressively old baobabs, there is one that's 41 feet in diameter! There are also 65 species of birds; rare endemics such as the Red-capped Coua and Blue Vanga can easily be seen here. Return to the hotel for a late breakfast, and explore the beach or hotel amenities. This evening, experience a special dinner under the baobab trees.

This morning, head back to Toliara for the flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, drive to Ambohimanga Royal Hill, a hilltop fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the palace dwellings and learn about the heritage of Madagascar's people. Have a typical, family-style lunch at an open-air restaurant where the meal will be accompanied by the singing and dancing of a local dance troupe.

Today is a departure day. For those interested, visit Lemurs' Park, a small botanical garden and rescue and rehabilitation center for lemurs. Return to the hotel for dinner and time to pack, enjoying the use of a day room as you await your departure flights. This evening, head to the airport for the flight back to the US.

Arrive back in the U.S.